UAE Team Emirates' Jay Vine claimed the overall lead of the UAE Tour on Wednesday after finishing second on the third stage as team-mate Adam Yates crashed out.

Australian Vine, 28, leapfrogged another fellow Team Emirates rider in Brandon McNulty to take top spot after a 176km ride concluding with a finish on Jebel Jais mountain in the north of the country.

Ben O'Connor took the stage victory, and is second in the overall standings, 11 seconds behind compatriot Vine.

"It's been a while since I last won a mountain top. It was amazing," said O'Connor. "The boys were super good today. Second win of the year it's pretty cool. 

"I was not confident in my sprint at the end so we decided to go full before the 1km to go mark. Valentin Paret-Peintre almost dropped me off but we managed to get a gap and I kept going till the end. I felt super good all day, even in the crosswind. It was sad to see Adam Yates go down. But as soon as you one GC rider on the ground it's an opportunity to take. It was one less guy to worry about. It's sweet to be in the mix for the overall win before Jebel Hafeet."

American McNulty trails two-time Vuelta a Espana stage winner Vine by 13 seconds.

Briton Yates fell with around the 40km to go and was forced to withdraw from the seven-stage race.

Thursday's fourth stage is a 175km sprint around Dubai.